Mercedes Mullins
Forgetting which side of your car the fuel tank is on can be embarrassing, especially if you're driving a rental or borrowed car. In some countries, there are no regulations requiring the fuel door to be placed on a specific side, so it can be challenging to remember or determine the location of the fuel tank. However, there's a simple trick to finding out: look at the fuel gauge, where you'll see a small arrow or triangle pointing left or right, indicating the side of the vehicle where the fuel tank filler is located.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Regulations requiring a fuel door to be placed on one side | No such regulations exist in Canada and the United States |
| Determining the side of the fuel tank | Look for an arrow or triangle next to the fuel pump icon on the fuel gauge |
| The side of the hose on the fuel pump icon may indicate the side of the fuel tank | |
| Pull the fuel cap release lever and check the side mirrors | |
| Drive next to a reflective surface to see the reflection of the fuel door | |
| In American-made cars, the fuel cap is typically on the left, while in foreign imported cars, it is on the right | |
| The fuel door is usually located at the widest part of the vehicle, opposite the exhaust system |
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What You'll Learn
The arrow on the fuel pump icon points to the side of the tank
If you're driving a borrowed car or a rental, you might not know which side the fuel tank is on. Luckily, there is a simple way to find out: the arrow on the fuel pump icon points to the side of the tank.
The arrow symbol on the fuel indicator is meant to indicate on which side the car's fuel filler cap is available. If the arrow is on the left side or pointing to the left, the car's filler cap is on the left side. This makes it easier for people who are filling up the tank and aren't sure which side the fuel indicator is on.
In earlier car models, there was no fuel indicator, so drivers faced several problems, including issues with filling up the fuel tank. It was only in 1914 that the Studebaker car model introduced the first fuel indicator on its dashboard. The fuel indicators are now one of the most important and essential parts of any vehicle, along with their symbols and indicators.
Car manufacturers started using a small arrow on the dashboard to help drivers. Initially, carmakers used symbols like "right" or "left" to indicate the presence of a fuel filler cap. Later, a much simpler version, an arrow, was introduced.
While this trick works for most cars, it doesn't work for all of them. In Canada and the United States, there are no regulations that require a fuel door to be placed on one side or the other. Regulations only outline that the fuel door must be housed at the widest part of the vehicle, opposite the exhaust system, and away from crumple zones. As a result, car engineers place the door on whichever side makes the most sense for the vehicle's design and function.
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The hose on the fuel pump icon can indicate the side
If you're driving a rental car or a borrowed car, you might not know which side the fuel tank is on. In Canada and the United States, there are currently no regulations that require a fuel door to be placed on one side or the other.
To avoid this problem, automakers have included a simple way to tell which side the fuel tank is on. If your car has a diamond-shaped arrow on the fuel gauge, this indicates the side that your tank is on. If your car doesn't have the diamond arrow, the hose on the fuel pump icon can indicate the side. The hose will extend out on either the left or the right side of the pump, indicating which side of the car the tank is on. This is consistent with the placement of the gas cap, so you can use the icon to determine which side to park closest to at the pump.
It's worth noting that this trick may not work for electric vehicles (EVs). While gas-fueled vehicles typically have this indicator light, the same can't necessarily be said for EVs. So, if you're driving an EV, you might need to check ahead of time and find a way to remind yourself which side the fuel tank is on.
Additionally, it's important to set up your mirrors properly so you can see the side of your car when you're at the pump. This will help you avoid the frustration of having to move your car to the other side of the pump if you parked on the wrong side.
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The fuel cap is often on the opposite side to the exhaust
It can be frustrating to pull up to a gas pump or charging station only to find that the fuel door is on the wrong side. Luckily, there are a few tricks to help you remember which side of the car your fuel tank is on.
Firstly, every new combustion car has a fuel gauge with a little icon of a gas pump. This icon often features a small arrow pointing left or right, indicating the side of the car where the tank is located. Some newer model cars with digital displays also show a diagram pointing to the location of the fuel door.
Secondly, the fuel cap is often on the opposite side of the car to the exhaust. This is because the exhaust system is usually housed in a tunnel cut into the floor, and it is more space-efficient to put the silencer on one side and the fuel tank on the other. It is also safer, as you don't want fuel leaking onto a hot exhaust.
The placement of the fuel cap can also be dictated by the country the car was built in or for, the design of the car, and relevant safety requirements. For example, cars built for a right-hand drive market, such as the UK or Australia, will likely have the petrol cap on the passenger side, making it easier for the driver to fill up without having to squeeze out of the car.
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In the US, the gas cap is usually on the right side
The location of the fuel cap is determined by the vehicle's design and function. For example, if engineers need to place a mechanism on the left side for optimal performance, the fuel tank and door will shift to the right. Additionally, the fuel door must be housed at the widest part of the vehicle, away from the exhaust system and crumple zones.
To avoid the hassle of pulling up to the gas pump only to find that the fuel door is on the wrong side, there are a few tricks you can use to determine the side beforehand. One method is to look at the fuel pump icon on the fuel gauge, which usually has a small arrow pointing to the left or right, indicating the side of the car with the fuel cap. Alternatively, you can observe the back of the car and identify which side the tailpipe is on; the gas cap will be on the opposite side.
It's worth noting that personal preference may also play a role in fuel cap location. In countries with the steering wheel on the left side, such as America, individuals often prefer a left-mounted fuel door as it's more convenient for refuelling. However, this preference tends to reverse in countries with right-hand steering. Ultimately, automakers consider various factors when deciding the fuel cap's location, and it may vary even within the same country.
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Check the side mirrors after releasing the fuel cap
If you're driving a rental car, a borrowed car, or you've simply forgotten which side your fuel tank is on, there are a few tricks to help you out. Firstly, it's worth noting that most newer cars explicitly tell you which side the fuel tank is on. Simply look at the dashboard fuel gauge and you'll see a picture of a gas pump with an arrow. Whichever way the arrow points, that's the side of the car with the filler cap.
However, if your car doesn't have this indicator, you can try the following: pull the fuel cap release lever under the driver's seat, then look in your side mirrors. When you release the outer fuel cap, it should spring outwards from the car body, making it visible in one of the side mirrors. It's important to note that you should only do this while the vehicle is stationary, such as after you've pulled into a fuel stop.
Another option is to drive up next to a structure with plate glass windows or another reflective surface. If you angle it right, you should be able to see the side of your car reflected in the windows, and you can check to see if the gas door is visible. If you can't see it, then it's probably on the other side. This method can be a bit inconvenient and potentially hazardous, so it's not recommended if you can avoid it.
Additionally, in some countries where you drive on the opposite side of the road, such as the US, the fuel cap will typically be on the right side of the car. So, if you're in the US, it's more likely that the gas door is on the right than on the driver's side.
Finally, on older cars, the fuel pump icon or the side of the icon that the fuel hose is on may indicate the side of the fuel door.
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Frequently asked questions
Look at the fuel gauge, there should be a little arrow or triangle pointing left or right, indicating the side of the vehicle where your fuel tank filler is located.
On some older cars, the fuel pump icon or the side of the icon that the fuel hose is on is on the side of the fuel gauge that the fuel door is on.
If you can't see either of these things, you may need to get out of the car and check the location of your fuel tank.
